Top Ten Tuesday: Changes In My Reading Life

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This weeks topic is all about changes in your reading life & when I saw this I legit stopped what I was doing and opened up a bullet point notes doc on my phone. I’ve had such an impactful transformative glow up year that it really didn’t come as a surprise to myself when my reading life changed drastically.

Quality over Quantity

I started the year off hopeful by setting my Goodreads Challenge to what I considered an attainable 50. The thing is I started racking up life experiences, traveling and just enjoying connections with others that finding time to read became a bit difficult. I quickly realized I was coming face to face with a reading slump If I didn’t throw #’s away & just focused on reading books I just knew I’d love. I started picking up books that were sitting on my shelves for way too long & discovering some favorites/5 star reads along the way (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) 🙌🏽 of course next year I’ll most likely read more than I read this year but for now I’m good with knowing it’s been a quality reading year 🖤

Reading from my shelves

I fully admit I had a problem with buying books and not reading them. Most of the time I was busy reading ARCS which is a privilege I’m absolutely grateful for. This year I chose not to request any arcs seeing as I attended BEA & that was more than enough for me this year. I had a strong urge to read from my shelves. Back list titles I’ve heard so many great things about (The Poet X) yet I wasn’t picking up. I have a whole bookcase of Book of the Month books that I had barely touched. Whelp! that changed & I’m now happily showing my shelves so much love.

AUdiobooks

These babies have legit saved my reading life! I needed something to keep me company while I hit the gym & learned how to cook. On days that I work from home I can easily start a 6-8 hour book in the AM & be done with it by the time I transition to my workouts/cooking. I listened to With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo in 1 day, I cried and laughed all the way through! Audiobooks are exactly what I need when I feel myself getting in a funk & need that Hail Mary 😎

Romance books

I’ve always LOVED romantic comedies (Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, Brown Sugar, You’ve Got Mail) and have NO idea why I waited so long to get into some romance reads. Both sweet & steamy reads helped me earlier this year when I wasn’t feeling my best. Now I read them & give my boyfriend a run down of said steamy read and enjoy seeing his cheeks turn all shades of red (The Bromance Book Club)🤗😂

Mood reading

Not sure why I always felt guilty whenever the mood struck to mood read but this whole year was a big ol’ mood! 😂 I couldn’t commit to a TBR & decided to just go with the flow. At any given moment I had a smutty read, psychological thriller, and fantasy going all at once 🤷🏻‍♀️ it really just depends on what side of the bed I wake up on haha! again, next year I will most definitely have a bit more structure while still leaving room for some mood reads 😉

Library books

The Libby app has become my dearest pocket pal, just because I’ve cut back on buying books it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped wanting them 😂 Instead of buying books with the intention of one day getting to them, I now use my library & it’s AMAZING! I LOVE getting email notifications letting me know my hold has come through smh, legit I have a book shimmy I do when I see them in my inbox. It helps that you have a deadline to read the book before they disappear cause these one right here needs a lil pressure from time to time 🙈

Daily reading goals

This is the season of the year I maximize my reading & so I’ve made some adjustments to my reading habits. Primarily, the main goal is that I actually read daily even if it’s a few pages. Making the most of my heavy commute and lunch breaks has really helped me in this area. I found myself earlier this year doing everything on my phone but reading. Shutting off my wi-fi & creating a reading playlist on Spotify has really helped me stick to reading on the train. Now it’s a goal to not end up at the last stop with only 5% left for me to finish the book…YES this has happened! Yes I totally ran to the bathroom & finished my book 😂

E-books

I finally gave up on this fierce grip I had on physical books. I LOVE growing my home library, I really do…however, I’m way quicker to pick up an ebook over a physical copy. I also happen to read ebooks way faster than physical. Not to say that it’s a race but often times I’ll lug a hardback to & from work for 2 weeks straight. Whereas with a ebook I’ll finish with a couple of day, sometimes even in one sitting. This is also true for eARCS vs. Physical arcs. My Kindle is my baby…I’m still a sucker for a pretty cover and sprayed edges though #jussayin

ASMR/Hip-hop instrumentals

I honestly never thought I’d get so hooked on ASMR Rooms on Youtube but those Harry Potter inspired rooms are EVERYTHING! 😍 I also really enjoy rain & fireplace rooms. ASMR really helps silence my thoughts & background enhancing my reading experience which in turn gets me finishing more books. The Instrumentals Hip Hop Playlist on Spotify is a whole Vibe! I get so much reading & blogging done while listening to Soul Of Mischief’s 93 ‘Til Infinity 😎

Finishing Series

This last one I have yet to implement but it’s on deck so I thought I’d include it here for accountability purposes. 2018 was the year of fantasy trilogies/series & I am very guilty of starting so many and not following up with their sequels. I have a list I’ve started of trilogies I’d like to either finish or continue with. At the very top of this list is Holy Sister (Book of the Ancestor #3) by Mark Lawrence and The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch #3) by Rin Chupeco and Dark Age (Red Rising Saga #5) by Pierce Brown.

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WWW Wednesday 10/30/2019

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On a World of Words and to participate all you have to do is answer the three W’s listed below. Once you’ve posted your WWW, drop a link to your post in Sam’s comments <3’s!

The questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Two posts in one day? who am I?!? I’ve been on a reading frenzy this entire month and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down *fingers crossed* my review back log is keeping me up at night but that’s not what we’re here for today haha! I hope you’re all living your best reading lives & if you’re loving what you’re reading, please drop a reccomendation in the comments below. I don’t genre discriminate, all are welcome! ❤

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh Currently I’m 200 pages into this YA Paranormal Romance (It’s being called Fantasy but I’m not getting that vibe) & really enjoying what I’ve read so far. I’ve seen many bookish buddies give this one mixed reviews & can totally understand why. This reads much slower & has a historical romance vibe to it. Personally I’m just a sucker for New Orleans which you are fully immersed in from the very first page. There is a subtle approach to the supernatural beings in this world, we aren’t directly told they are vampires however they fit the prototype we are familiar with. There’s also hints that It may not just be Vampires who share this world with humans & that has definitely piqued my interest. The MC is feminist AF & way ahead of her times which only has me admiring her on the page. More thoughts to come in my review later this week.

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets and Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong Currently I’m 45% into this audio-book & have lost count of the times I burst out laughing while walking in public & in my cubicle. Ali Wong’s letters to her daughters are raw, hilarious, and no holds barred. We see life as a struggling comedian in NYC & L.A, her dating life before meeting her husband, and life as a mom/career woman on her rise to fame. Ali Wong keeps it real with her daughters in a way I feel I would with my own little girl (one day haha!) as cringy as it may get. Mini Review to come.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo I listened to the audio-book, I’m a big fan of this author and her narrating voice is not to be missed. Having listened to With the fire on High as well as Pride by Ibi Zoboi (narrated by Acevedo) I just knew this was my preferred format. A short read, we get a Dominican MC who has been sexualized at a young age because of her rapidly developed body. She has a very religious mother & very little guidance on things she’s experiencing with her body as well as with boys/men. There’s a certain shame that hangs over her head that she is able to express through her poetry. This review is sitting in my drafts (almost finished) & will be posted this week but I will say that I 5 starred it & HIGHLY recommend!

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco (Review linked) A stranger mash-up I have yet to read LOL! I really didn’t know what to expect going in other than this was being pitched as Frozen meets Mad Max. PRETTY ACCURATE! It honestly just solidified my feelings towards this author…BAD A**!!! I will read anything Rin Chupeco writes. I have a full review linked above & rated this one 4 stars 🙂

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Gideon the Ninth is the most fun you’ll ever have with a skeleton.

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy…

The Bromance Book Club (The Bromance Book Club #1) by Lyssa Kay Adams

The first rule of book club:
You don’t talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club…

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WWW Wednesday 7/17/2019

The questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

An impromptu WWW post is in order after attempting to go for a walk & getting smacked with the reality of a heat wave here in NYC. My hair begged me to go back inside to the comforts of AC & here I am Luvs! I’m also hooked to Booktube Reading Rush videos. I can’t participate since I’ll be going away with family towards the end of the week but the excitement is seriously contagious! cheering everyone on 🙂

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

Technically I’m not reading this at the moment haha! but it is the book I’m starting on my commute home today. What was I doing on my commute into work? as previously mentioned, I’m HOOKED on Reading Rush TBR videos on Booktube at the moment #FOMO…I am however predicting this will be one that I really enjoy *fingers crossed*

A Princess In Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole

I have a review coming for this 5 star read sometime this week, it will basically be me RAVING about how much I loved it! This is a well loved book series & I have every intention of continuing on with all of the Reluctant Royals books. Any book featuring women in STEM will always grab my attention but this book has one thing I haven’t seen in any others. The main character Ledi lives & breathes her field of study & we aren’t just told this, we are shown it in the writing. So many great things can be said about this book, I’ll save those for my review 😉

With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Also a 5 star review I’m currently working on cause I’m on a reading high & haven’t wanted to stop reading to write *shame shame shame* but in my defense, I did listen to this one in its entirety yesterday. HOOKED! but i expect nothing less when Elizabeth Acevedo narrates her own book. Raw & authentic, Acevedo brings the flavor of the kitchen to you. Our MC Emoni is Philly born & raised, a teen mom with a talent for remixing recipes that will conjure up the most valuable memories in those who eat her food. I listened to this book throughout my day & also while I cooked a Puerto-Rican dish. I laughed out loud, cried, and rejoiced in Emoni’s triumphs. More to come in my review.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

The thriller everyone is buzzing about! I shamefully own all of Sager’s books & have yet to see why they’re so popular. That changes this week! I actually have a physical copy from Book Of The Month & the audio-book from Scribd. I am consciously making an effort to tackle my BOTM shelf so I’m happy to get to this one. Also, this takes place in New York aka MY HOME CITY! ❤ May just have to take a stroll by The Bartholomew 😌

For anyone in or recently out of slump, I send hugs! I had a tough beginning to this year but have so many wonderful changes & blessings to truly be thankful for. One of the things I never expected to take a hit was my love for reading & yet it did. I’m excited to finally have that spark to want to read, blog & re-connect with friends ❤ ! What books are you reading, loving, maybe want to warn me to stay away from?

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WWW Wednesday 4/24/2019

The questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

A little coffee along with the latest Grey’s Anatomy episode playing in the background sets the mood for a long overdue WWW Wednesday post. I don’t want to jinx myself but I’ve been reading non-stop & with that comes reviewing. I second guessed myself on being able to draft up a review since I’ve been on hiatus for a while but I was very happy to see it felt very much like coming home. This year I’m very focused on quality reading which I’m hoping means less meh & more awwwww shi**!!! haha! This also means, I will be making use of the good ol’ DNF if necessary. Something I’ve never done cause my personality often gets in the way, my mind says I MUST finish whatever I start but that’s just not realistic or fair to myself at this point. My last two reads were both 5 star reads motivating me to sort of (haha!) create a TBR which I may just post 😉

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Currently I’m 60% into this read set in Seattle, leaning towards 3.5-4 stars. It’s my first read by Jenn Bennett & it has stirred up interest in towards her other books. The romance in this one had to grow on me but it only gets cuter as the story progresses. There’s a LATINX side character I am ABSOLUTELY love! & the MOST creative first date ever that has me all in my feels. I’ve always been enamored with the idea of one day living in Seattle, this book reignited that dream 😍

Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy #1) by Emily A. Duncan

This book truly surprised me in the BEST deliciously dark way possible! 🖤 Confession that may get me in trouble: I was never a big fan of The Darkling in the Grishaverse…YUP! I said it! no backsies. The villain in Wicked Saints has been compared to the Darkling & I feel this villain is WAY more appealing while also being 50 shades of messed up. The last 30% had me in its clutches & I cannot wait for the sequel. The magic system is A+! I’d recommend to those who were fans of Children Of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi. If you love the premise of a MC who is divinely protected by the Gods & can communicate with them, this is your book. If said Gods also happen to have a range of personalities on the page, this is your book. My 5 star review will go live tomorrow 4/25/19.

Middle Game by Seanan McGuire

“Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.”

I was very blessed by the Book Gods to receive an ARC of Middlegame earlier this year (LOVE TOR!!!) & it’ll be my very 1st Seanan McGuire read. I don’t know very much about this book other than it featuring twins, one whois a genius with words and the other with numbers. That they aren’t necessarily human & that this may be somewhere between Fantasy & Science Fiction. It’s a pretty thick book that is set to release May 7th so I am making it my next beast to tackle. I’ve heard some mixed reviews but mostly that it is quite the odd read & I can dig that so fingers crossed I do hope I enjoy this one 🖤

It’s that time of year when I try to aggressively tackle my TBR in preparation for BEA. Good thing I’ve been craving books like water cause the shelves have been crying for some TLC 🖤 I hope you’re all falling in love with some amazing fictional characters & stepping into worlds that leave you wanting more 😉

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WWW Wednesday 10/10/2018

The questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Happy Hump Day Bookworms!!! I feel like I’m always saying it’s been a minute on these weekly reading updates but that’s only because I’ve been binge reading w/out stopping for air. I have a stream of reviews coming to the blog over the next few days. Some of them are Pride by Ibi Zoboi, For a Muse Of Fire by Heidi Heilig, and What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera. It’s been a FAB start to October with great reads & I’m going to tell on myself a bit here cause I’m sure a lot of you can relate…It’s only the 10th. but the amount of good books streaming out have had my pockets crying! The only comforting thought in all of the spending has been that they are all Own Voices books which honestly makes my heart deliriously happy 🙂

What If It’s US by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

I am currently at the 80% mark and really enjoying this collaborative story told by BFF’s Becky & Adam. I am a BIG Silvera fan & was a bit weary of setting my hopes too high for a slam dunk…happy to report this to be a total hit in my corner. I have a ton of thoughts & I will say that it isn’t without its flaws but overall I can’t deny my enjoyment levels are high. I recently caught wind of it being adapted for the big screen & my heart did a little back flip cause I’m long overdue for a good Rom-Com/Meet Cute. The fact that it’s set in NYC aka MY CITY haha! is awesome & now I will have my eyes peeled for any yellow Movie Filming signs posted all over Times Square *eyes wide open*

For A Muse Of Fire by Heidi Heilig

This dark dark book wasn’t what I expected but then again I really didn’t know what I was getting into. I ended up being enthralled by this one tbh & even did a couple of updates on Instagram stories sharing my thoughts. This is 100% a dark fantasy about Necromancy starring a girl who can call on souls and place them inside her shadow puppets or inanimate objects. The world it’s set in is inspired by South East Asia & France, and we definitely see elements that feel familiar but are very much their own. We get some mental health rep through our MC who is Bi-polar and is traveling with her parents to find a “cure.” All the while there is a war going on with soldiers vs. rebel groups and our MC is caught somewhere in the middle. This story is unique but will appeal to readers who really enjoyed Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch, full RTC 😉

The Lost Sisters (The Folk Of The Air #1.5) by Holly Black

12am sharp, my pre-order downloaded onto my kindle and I’d like to say I stayed awake but who am I kidding? This gal went for the beauty sleep instead BUT 1st thing in the AM I grabbed my mug of coffee and phone glued to face, I inhale read this baby! gahhhhh! Holly Black is a new to me author this year with The Cruel Prince snatching my life but I can already tell she will be joining the ranks of my favorite authors. Told from the POV of Taryn who I call The Bitter Sister *side eye* we get to see her account of things unfold & maybe this novella was meant to sway your opinion or play devils advocate but I just couldn’t be moved to have any sympathy for her. I highlighted so many lines where she goes full on dark, this girl is something else! If anything, this made me love Jude all the more cause those daggers were coming from every direction even from her own sister!

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

It wouldn’t be October without the spooky reads, Sawkill girls is serving up all the seasonal vibes and I’m just so ready to dive right in! I’ve purposely limited my knowledge of the premise because Legrand is such a unique writer who has yet to disappoint me. I’m expecting this one to be hella atmospheric with some creepy vibes along the way. Some of my closest bookworm friends have had some really polarizing thoughts on this one but all seem to agree that I would really like it…*raised eyebrow* haha! we shall see 😉

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Thrillers will always make an appearance here on the blog around this time of year but this time it’s also for a special reason. On Friday 10/12 I’ll be joining the month long October Readathon #FridayFrightaThon hosted by Melanie, Amy, Jen, and Chelsea. The breakdown for the Readathon can be viewed by clicking on any of the host links. I’m super excited for The Death Of Mrs. Westaway! I picked it up a few months ago while browsing the shelves at Barnes & Noble. Legit stopped in my tracks while reading the blurb seeing that the MC is a Tarot card reader. Yes. Yes I am a lover of the mystical and I just knew I had to have this one. I’m glad I saved it for this month & that it’s one of the picks for this Readathon. A Tarot Reader who receives a letter of inheritance in error but still decides to show up at the funeral when her senses go off & tell her that something is amiss…yes please! ❤

I hope you’re all having a wonderful Spooktober filled with all the cozy atmospheric reads! or like me, squeezing out your last summer meet cute haha! I haven’t asked this in a while: What’s on your nightstand (be it real or digital)? Sound off in the comments below 😉

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This weeks topic spotlights the top 10 unread books by your favorite authors. I typically like to read my faves as they are released but this year saw me collecting them & not reading them? yea It’s this new thing where I find myself avoiding book hangovers by not reading my faves 🤦🏻‍♀️ this will be changing in 2019 though that’s for sure. Watch me play catch up 😉

*These are in no particular order*

September 25th: Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read

Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor– Strange made an appearance in my TTT last week as will others because I will be reading them this Fall/Winter season. Laini is my #1 favorite YA author of all time, this book is going to break me with its beauty & I’m finally ready to embrace all of it!

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo– My Dark Queen has written two books that I haven’t read but know that I’m going to LOVE! I actually learned about this book from Leigh Bardugo while listening to her speak at a signing at NYC Strand. It wasn’t news in the bookish community so it was a real treat to get the 411 straight from Leigh Bardugo. Definitely reading WW this season.

The Language Of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo– This book is STUNNING both inside & out with eye popping illustrations. I meant to read this last Winter just cause it has cold season vibes but that didn’t happen. This Winter season I will be reading this collection.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff– Jay Kristoff won me over with The Illuminae Files & since then I’ve just wanted to read all of his books. I also own The Lotus War trilogy that I’d really like to get to but Nevernight has 100% of my interest for next Kristoff read.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare– It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Shadowhunter world & returning to it this Fall will probably be a bit nostalgic. I have a ton of good memories buddy reading TMI & TID with my hubby. Since he’s already read Lady Midnight, I will have someone at home to bounce my thoughts off of 😂

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman– Uncle Gaiman as I affectionally have dubbed him here on the blog, wrote a book and I haven’t read it 🙈 what’s worse is that I love anything Greek or Norse Mythology so I really don’t have any excuse. I’m a big fan of Gaiman’s audiobooks, he has one of my favorite narrating voices & it always feels like I’m getting a bedtime story. This is a collection of short stories so I may just read it along with another book.

Wire and Nerve by Marissa Meyer– This Illustrated Graphic Novel has been sitting on my shelves for far too long! I loved The Lunar Chronicles & Iko was my fave character along with Captain Thorne of course. Iko as a lead though is all my heart could’ve hoped for so it’s time I give this one a go.

Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker– K.A. Tucker holds a special place in my heart as the first New Adult author I ever read. I’m so happy it was Tucker cause since then I’ve been OBSESSED with anything she writes. Until It Fades gave me darker vibes though but that might just be my perception. Either way, having just recently finished The Simple Wild by Tucker, I want nothing more than to read those books I have yet to get to by this author.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab – I actually received my Owlcrate exclusive edition box for the sequel Vengeful earlier today & it was EVERYTHING I could’ve hoped for 🙌🏽 I LOVED The Monsters of Verity Duology so much last year that I just simply couldn’t resist! Most bookworms love the Darker Shades Of Magic books & although I didn’t become obsessed after reading the 1st book, I haven’t quite given up on them either 😂 I will be reading Vicious sometime in October.

The Winds Of Winter by George R.R. Martin – Sort of cheating here since this isn’t out in the world for me to read but I feel putting it out in the Universe may make it actually happen in my lifetime #jussayin 🤷🏻‍♀️ We keep getting other books in this EPIC world & I welcome them all but I just really need book 6 like yesterday 😂

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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Blogs/Bookish Website

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This weeks topic is all about the showing love to your favorite Book Blogs/Webistes & I just LOVE this with all my 🖤!!! I have so many book blogs & book tubers as well that I go to for my daily fix. Lately its been a lot of Booktube cause life has been so unbelievably hectic but Book Blogs are my 1st true love! This past week I’ve been easing my way back into blog hopping & realize how much I’ve missed it all so this is the PERFECT time to show some love & also maybe interest you in following some (or all 😂) of these wonderful bookworm/content creators 💓

*These are in no particular order & it pained me to keep it to 10 cause I LOVE YOU ALL!

August 14th: Favorite Book Blogs/Bookish Websites

🖤 Melanie @Meltotheany

Melanie is one of my FAVORITE people I’ve met through Book Blogging & hilarious Voice Notes! I really enjoy buddy reads with Mel & seeing her Fantasy recommendations, chances are if they have her seal of approval…I’m most likely going to love it hence why she’s my Book Twin, we don’t come across many of those in a lifetime so when we find one, we show them love! also, Mel has a keen eye for trigger content so you can always count on her to list them in her amazing reviews before venturing into something you’re feeling a bit hesitant about💓

🖤 Danielle @BooksVertigoandTea

This post couldn’t possibly go up without Danielle who is one of the sweetest & first Book Bloggers I came across when first joining this community. Danielle reviews a variety of genres & I can always count on her blog to find something new that may have possibly missed my radar.I LOVE her reviews of Tor Novellas and Sunday Wrap-Up’s. Most of all, Danielle is just one of those people you meet & just know THIS is a good human being 💓 Danny is on a break at the moment,sending her all the love & positivity💓

🖤 Larkin @ WonderfilledReads

Larkin, I have to meet this human one day! 💓 Not only does she get my humor but she reads all the books I stare at on my shelves (including Book of the Month 🙈) for no good reason other than my book buying addiction 😂 Larkin is probably one of the few book bloggers I know who really keeps up with Fantasy series and finishes them giving you well rounded reviews individually & as a whole. She also has AMAZING audiobook recommendations, I will NEVER tire of thanking her for getting me to pick up The Serpent King by Jeff Zetner 💔 Larkin also shares my love for all things Sci-Fi is overall just a pleasure to interact with 💓

🖤 Beth @ ReadingEveryNight

Beth 💓 my Book Twin in the U.K. who I trust whole heartedly & just know she would never steer me wrong with her wonderfully insightful reviews 🙌🏼 Beth like Danielle (see above) is also one of the first Bookworms I met in the Book Blogging community & the MOST welcoming! She is SUPER interactive with her subscribers and leaves such thoughtful comments that always bring a smile to face no matter when/where I’m reading them. Beth reviews YA books across all genres & also has some of the most beautiful travel posts/photos which she pairs with books! Beth can also bake & I’m just here waiting for those posts to come through 🤞🏼😂💓

🖤 Flavia @ FlaviaTheBibliophile

Ok Y’all! Guaranteed you all have that 1 blog you follow cause everything they post is just SOOOOO damn BEAUTIFUL!💓 Flavia’s Book Reviews, Beauty Hauls, #ARCstravaganza posts are LEGIT *Hearts in your eyes* swoon worthy content!There’s honestly a little something for everyone & I just love visiting her blog cause it’s always a good time!Flavia is a sweetheart & is the friend to fangirl with you over books & movies any time!

🖤 Amy @ ACourtOfCrownsandQuills

Amy! The Book Gods made our paths cross & ever since then I’ve been blessed with some amazing Buddy Reads 💓 Amy also reviews YA Fantasy & a variety of other genres. We tend to have similar opinions on books & she also runs one of my FAVORITE Instagram accounts! which I personally go to for unboxings 🤗😍

🖤 Heather @ TheSassyBookGeek

Heather 💓 I’ve always wanted to know a Heather & then this wonderful human came across my blogging journey 😆 haha! I mostly read ARCS & that keeps me in the know of what’s coming to shelves in the near future. It’s not often I come across someone with a TBR that makes me sweat a little but heather’s does cause it often looks like mine & is a reminder that I NEED to get to reading STAT! Heather also reads across genres, has amazing reviews, and pulls no punches which I always appreciate when looking for recommendations💓

🖤 Taylor @ NerdNarration

Taylor 💓 all it took was for me to find her Nyxia by Scott Reintgen review & I just knew I had to befriend this beautiful Bookworm! They say I write some enthusiastic reviews for books that I love but Taylor got me beat! 😂 I love reading anything she posts because her personality bursts right through in her words, humor, and GIPHS! Taylor recently won my ARC Giveaway for Dear Evan Hansen over on Instagram & made my day getting her excitement through DM’s 🙌🏼😂🙌🏼 Nothing but positive vibes from Taylor’s corner 💓

🖤 Ashley @ SociallyAwkwardBookworm

Ashley 💓 Besides being a real sweetheart & having the most AMAZING cats with tons of personality & a dog I can’t get enough of! Ashley keeps me humble 🙈😂 She always has a set TBR with attainable goals & finds EPIC book deals on Kindle! LEGIT she is my #GOALS 💓 Ashley also loves photography & I love seeing the photos she takes, always vibrant & make me want to be better at my IG game 😂

🖤 Kelly @Kelly’sRambles

Kelly 💓 I LOVE Kelly’s blog & the fact that when I’m on the go, I can always count on her mini-reviews, Bookish event re-caps, & let’s face it…I’m always curious about her TBR cause not only does she read good books but at times they’re ones I haven’t heard of & she’s in the UK so the cover always pulls me in…I can go on & on but really don’t take my word for it & see for yourselves 😉

I’m currently working from home & this post has been a labor of love but I am SOOOO glad to have participated in this week’s topic! I even got on Instagram & posted a story on my appreciation for this community of Bookworms that have always been here for me when I really needed it 💜 10 is not enough to thank all those who faithfully like & comment my posts & just generally brighten my day! I love you all & hope to continue on this blogging journey for years to come 💓

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Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This weeks topic is all about the HYPE! books everyone is talking, blogging, and instagramming about. Wherever you look, these are the books you can’t seem to escape and feel like you NEEEED to read like you need air 😂 Well, these are 10 (in no particular order) that actually live up to the hype and I’m glad to have hopped on that train! 💓

July 31st 2018: Ten Books with Sensory Reading Memories

🖤 The Cruel Prince by Holly Black– My 1st book by Holly Black & honestly it had me wondering why I hadn’t read anything by Black in all these years! 🙈 I’m fully convinced Black is Fae Royalty, I’ve never come across anyone who made me LOVE Fae as much. Dark & full of plot twists this is THE book to break your neck trying to keep up with. The hype is real with this one & as expected, The Wicked King set to release in 2019 is no different 🙌🏼

🖤 FURYBORN by Claire Legrand-This book had me a bit skeptical I’ll admit & that almost made me pass on it. Whelp! something told me to request that title from the Publisher & fainted a million faints when it showed up in all its glory. This book pulled off two timelines 1K years apart! I read FURYBORN with a bunch of other bookworm buddies & we ALL agreed…the HYPE IS REAL & WELL DESERVED! 😆

🖤 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff– Quite possibly THE trilogy to get me into all things YA Sci-Fi books. I actually waited 1 year before cracking open my copy of Illumimae after hearing so many of my closest rave about these characters. I kicked myself once I had read it & realized I was missing out BIG time! 😂

🖤 Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo– I meaaaaan! by now you’ve probably seen a hundred different variations of artwork inspired by the characters in this book. It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard of Kaz Brekker or Inej Ghafa. The crew in this book will stay with you way past the last page & is ABSOLUTELY worth the hype! 🙌🏼

🖤 The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden- This is the one everyone slept on & then it just started to make waves a year later. I couldn’t believe this book was written by a debut author. Today, this trilogy is one of my all time favorites. Who else is HIGHLY anticipating The Winter Of The Witch? 😃

🖤 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas– Relevant, poignant, and such an important read! THUG is one that should be part of course curriculums & I’m just so glad to have read it & continue to spread the love for this book. FOMO will run high around the time of movie release, please read the book before watching the movie 💙

🖤 Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi– The line for this book at Bookcon was Nanas! and a true testament to this books success really. COBAB is also being adapted to the big screen & has also been selected as the 1st book selection for Jimmy Fallon’s Book Club 😱 it is well worth the hype!

🖤 The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater-The Raven Boys are another crew of characters that are very well known in the book community. Blue & the boys have a special place in my heart and I’m really looking forward to the tv adaptation if only to get more time with these characters. I read this one before the hype train took off & can honestly say it’s hype worthy!

🖤 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) by JK Rowling– Saving the best for last! HP is one that will never die down its hype as well it shouldn’t! I am forever hyping Harry & Co to my tiny human to the point where she can’t wait to reach HP reading level 😂 SMH. Till we’re old and gray we’ll reminsice on the days we spent reading about Hogwarts.

🖤 The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare– My first YA series, the one responsible for my love of all things YA Fantasy. Twilight may have been my first YA book ever but it was City Of Bones that hooked me and never let me go. The hype with these books was and is so strong that I caught wind of them way before knowing the book community existed. I had no idea it was the beginning of a long love affair…

Hello Bookworms & a very happy Tuesday <3’s! Have you read any of the books I’ve listed? Which hyped up book are you ever so happy you hopped on the train for? Drop some love down below 🙂

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title)

*Purple Rain Purple Rain* I LOVE every shade of Purple there is, some more than others but they all get my love! These are just a few of the books I’ve either read or own a copy of to be read very soon ☺

May 8th 2018: Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title)

💜 Toil & Trouble: 16 Tales Of Women & Witchcraft: “witchy heroines who are diverse in race, class, sexuality, religion, geography, and era” the blurb alone sold me on what I’m sure is one amazing collection

💜 Whisper Of The Tide (Song of the Current #2) by Sarah Tolcser: last year I was lucky to get an arc of Song Of The Current & it left me hella curious about the fate of the characters. I’m here for all the feminist fantasy & amazing parents navigating the high Seas 🙌🏼

💜 The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch #1) by Rin Chupeco: I’m pretty sure this book makes an appearance in all my memes/tags 😂 not only is it beautiful inside with lush writing, but the cover is one of my all time faves! Purple with flecks of gold & skull for the icing! 🙌🏼

💜 They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera aka the brother I never had: Online the book may appear more blue than anything but this baby is Indigo which means purple is all up in that mix 😂 Ugh! this book my 💔 so good!

💜 When The Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore: IMO nobody can do Magical Realism like McLemore, I mean the imagery is on point! The LGBTQIA+ representation is beautifully weaved in, I read this one in 1 sitting with a tear streaked face 😭

💜 Moonstruck Vol 1: Magic To Brew: This was a recent purchase while on a date with my hubby. We stopped by The Strand & Moonstruck legit stopped me right tin my tracks 😍 besides the fact that it’s a perfect blend of pastel purple & pink…we are getting LGBTQIA+ rep and plus sized rep on the cover and I legit jumped for joy while hubby just kinda looked around to see if anyone was filming me 😂

💜 Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan: BREATHTAKING! 😍 I think by now ya’ll know I welcome all LGBTQIA+ Fantasy and when I caught wind of this I decided to go out on a limb & request an ARC. The Book Gods blessed me & now I am basking in all the beauty of this purple gem, will be reading soon ☺

💜 Smoke In The Sun (Flame in the Mist #2) by Renée Ahdieh: Ok this du-ology has one of my all time fave ships in it & we are but a few weeks away now from returning to this world 🤗🤗🤗 & the cover is absolutely STUNNING! I can’t wait for my pre-order to get here!

💜 The Disasters by M.K. England: Pitched as “The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy” spoke straight to my soul! the dance I did when I got approved for this arc was a bit shameful but no regrets here 😂

💜 Mirage by Somaiya Daud: Currently buddy reading this one & LOVING it so much! I had no idea it was a sci-fi/fantasy, the only thing I knew was that it has Morrocan influences. I’m about 110 pages in & I find it hard to put down.

Happy Tuesday Bookworms! Hope you’re all having a wonderful week reading all the great books! My post is up way later than I would’ve liked but its been on of those days…the ones where you’re a professional juggler 😂

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’d Slay a Lion to Get Early

I’ve had these 10 drafted for the past two weeks now cause they’re simply the books I’m MOST eagerly anticipating! I have a feeling I will be making some of these wishes come true but for now 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

May 1st 2018: Top Ten Books I’d Slay a Lion to Get Early

🦁 What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera– Self appointed #1 Adam Silvera fan, there really isn’t anything he writes that I won’t read! I go in knowing my heart will be torn to pieces but there really isn’t anyone I’d let break my ♥ like I let Adam 🤷🏻‍♀️ This being a collab with his bff Becky Albertalli makes it easily one of those books I have a feeling will be a 5 star read 🙌🏼

🦁 City Of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab– Three reasons for which I need this book…. One: being that it’s Victoria Schwab & I can’t stay away from her books…Two: this book is set in Scotland which is one of my FAVE book settings…Three: Ghost-hunters 👻 that is all I needed to know 💜

🦁 King Of Scars (Nikolai Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo- Its been a minute since I read the Grisha trilogy but there’s one character that remains fresh in my memory. Nikolai in my opinion stole the show when he showed up & I knew there had to be more to his story. SUPER stoked to see the cover reveal today, EVERYTHING GOLD! I can’t wait to have a copy in hands since from what I’ve heard, there won’t be any arcs in circulation *sobs* haha!

🦁 On The Come Up by Angie Thomas- The Hate U Give had to be one of the most impactful, moving, and thought provoking books of 2017. Soon after I was buying copies for my closest friends & loved ones in hopes they’d see just how important Angie Thomas’ books are. Some have expressed concerns over the date of publication for On The Come Up being pushed back however, I think it’s a smart move. Production on The Hate U Give movie wasn’t without its hurdles & some distance between the projects is probably for the best. Nevertheless, I cannot wait to dive back into this wonderful authors writing.

🦁 Dark Age (Red Rising Saga #5) by Pierce Brown- Having recently read Iron Gold, finding out that book 5 would be out later this year was EPIC news! Can’t say too much about this one since it’s way deep into the series, but I will say that it feels great to be back in this world even when certain characters continue to royally mess things up.

🦁 The Winter Of The Witch (The Winternight Trilogy #3) by Katherine Arden- Katherine Arden is after my own heart with some of the most beautiful atmospheric writing I’ve ever come across on the page. The MC Vasya is one of my all time fave heroines who reminds me so much of Merida from Brave 💜 This is the conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy & although I’m not ready to say goodbye, I also really need to know what happens next!

🦁 Blanca & Roja by Anna Marie-McLemore- EVERYTHING McLemore writes is a MUST for this bookworm! magical realism at its best, it’s so hard to stay away from these books. I fell in love with this authors writing while reading When The Moon Was Ours & I can honestly say, I’ve never read anything that quite compares. All of McLemore’s books have LGBTQIA+ representation and POC main characters. I know I’ve said this for all the others but this is one I’m SOOOOO ready to get my hands on 🤗

🦁 Holy Sister (Book Of The Ancestor #3) by Mark Lawrence- Having just very recently read Grey Sister (Book Of The Ancestor #2) I can honestly say this is is my FAVORITE adult Fantasy! although seeing it end will be bitter-sweet, I have felt very much a part of Nona’s journey & can’t wait to see how her story comes to a close.

🦁 The ShadowGlass (The Bone Witch #3) by Rain Chupeco- eeeeK! I can’t even see the title of this book on the screen without flailing with happiness 🤗 this is perhaps the book I’d slay TWO lions for! 😂 It’s just SOOO good! Rin Chupeco’s writing is just a atmospheric as Katherine Ardens & just as beautiful. The main character Tea is one of my fave morally ambiguous MC’s & the ship in this book! *swooooooN*☺ oh & if you’re looking for a fantasy with a necromancer, this would be the book for you! 😉

🦁 Sea Witch by Sarah Henning- Hi! I’m Lilly & ever since I could remember, The Little Mermaid has been my favorite Disney movie of all time! haha! no seriously though, I obsessed over this movie. Did I ever think Ursula would get her own POV story? hell nah! evil sea Queens never get to tell their side of things. That being said, I read To Kill a Kingdom recently & LOVED the ish outta that dark gem! Sea Witch looks just as promising & I’m hoping it slayyyyyys my little ♥️!